The Field Book: or, Sports and pastimes of the United Kingdom: compiled from the best authorities, ancient and modernMaxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
History
The Field Book: or, Sports and pastimes of the United Kingdom: compiled from the best authorities, ancient and modern
Maxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
Amusements -- Great Britain; Sports -- Dictionaries; Sports -- Great Britain
The distemper, when existing in its worst form, is very often mistaken
for canine madness; but a close attention to the following points will
with certainty show the difference. Puppies are not so liable to madness
as full-grown dogs; it is but seldom the animal will drink freely in the
distemper, never in madness—yet they will now and then try to drink; the
hydrophobia arrives likewise at its height, in general, sooner than the
distemper, although the latter is sometimes equally sudden in its
attack, and rapid in its progress. In madness, all recollection of
places or persons is lost by the affected animal; his home will be left,
and he will bite the hand that feeds him, indiscriminately with any
other. In the distemper, there is no loss of reason but in the attack
and actual continuance of the convulsion fits; the animal does not
attempt to bite or rove abroad, and, on recovery from the fit, resumes
his faculties. If, therefore, a young dog will drink when the immediate
effect of the spasmodic restriction is removed, or, without evident
fear, will bear the sight of water, but more particularly when his
weakness is excessive, and strongly apparent between the intervals of
the fits, it may be safely concluded that it is the distemper, and not
madness. These circumstances, continues Mr. Blaine, should be carefully
remarked, as they are unerring, and may save many a valuable animal from
destruction, and many a timid mind from the most dreadful apprehension.
* * * * *
For the distemper, so soon as the symptoms appear, give an ounce of
castor oil, and after its operation has ceased, give the following
powder, mixed up with butter, into a bolus, every two hours, keeping the
dog warm, and supplying him frequently with warm milk or water-gruel.
Should the medicine occasion sickness or purging, the quantity and
frequency of the doses are to be abated.
Crocus metallorum finely levigated, and white antimonial powder, each
six grains, and diaphoretic calx of antimony, ten grains for one dose.
It is necessary to remark, that the above dose is sufficient for a
pointer or fox-hound, of six or eight months old, and that the quantity
is to be varied according to the size and age of the dog.
Rhubarb and jalap mixed, as much as will lie on a shilling, is an
excellent common physic. For dogs, foul within, five grains of tartar
emetic, given in a piece of hog’s lard. For a surfeit, one ounce of
sulphur, half an ounce of antimony, mixed together; a small ball in
butter, to be given to the dog, and the sore place well rubbed with a
mixture of white hellebore-root powdered, and hog’s lard; the dog to be
kept from water if he licks the ointment.
* * * * *
Doctor Darwin has given the following opinion upon the disorder, and how
to counteract its malignity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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